a idea that might be very helpful in manufactureing

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josheeg
 
Posts: 213
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:38 am

a idea that might be very helpful in manufactureing

Post by josheeg »

I have a idea for manufacturing open source hardware.

It involves a 3d printer and open source software.
To make a circuit board holder, solder paste stencil, and placement stencil. :mrgreen:

printing solder paste stencils and circuit board holder and placement stencil.

I am considering getting a makerbot thing-o-matic 3d plastic printer.

I am interested in makeing electronics boxes for my self and the open source
community.

I am trying to use the open source program heekscad but I can't seem to get it
to compile for my 64 bit ubuntu 10.10 I am having trouble with make and wonder
if I need something that is not listed in the dependencys you manualy install
beforehand.

I seen kicad can print out layers of the boards.

I know inkscape can trace images to svg files.

Now I know the output svg files are lines but if the tracings were filled
solids...

Then layored and or scaled I could posibly have something I can extrude up into
a 3d stencil file for my 3d printer to print lets say a mm thick solder paste
stencil.

Now the stencil would be better if a plate with 4 posts to let the board mount
by the mounting screw holes and the stencil fits on thowse holes or if it was a
holding box and a lip for the stencil to set into.

then after the solder paste was stenciled down the sodler paste stenicl is
removed and the placement stencil adds in placeing the components.

A heat resistant one made of circuit board material could be used to hold them
whale there soldered in a toaster oven or hotplate if the hotplate gets hot
enough. but then the base would need to be heat resistant or be on top and not
get as hot...
:mrgreen:

Please comment I am interested in the feasability of this... :D

tinsmith
 
Posts: 62
Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2010 9:18 pm

Re: a idea that might be very helpful in manufactureing

Post by tinsmith »

The output of most 3DPs would be unsuitable for a stencil mask.

Use a laser cutter.

josheeg
 
Posts: 213
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:38 am

Re: a idea that might be very helpful in manufactureing

Post by josheeg »

Why would you say it would be unsutible too thick?
The thing-o-matic specs on makerbot.com might show how thin a sheet can be.

Some people have hooked a lasor up to it in the place of a pen holder would the lasor diode from mouser 25w work?

tinsmith
 
Posts: 62
Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2010 9:18 pm

Re: a idea that might be very helpful in manufactureing

Post by tinsmith »

Thickness, texture, reliable minimum feature resolution, deviations in output quality...

I'd have to look at specs to figure out what you'd need in terms of a cutting laser, and the properties of the material you'll use matter. However, thin sheets shouldn't be too bad. I'd be more worried about overpowering it than under, but that can potentially be mitigated through stuff like faster transits or shorter pulses (to a point). There's probably open source info on building laser cutters, which may have been tested against appropriate material and would be more reliable than what I can guess off the top of my head. ;)

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